Google home vs google home mini: differences

With the fashion of the assistants and the expansion of the Google catalog, for those who are doubtful, they may not be sure what specifications should be taken into account when choosing one. In the case of Google Home VS Google Home Mini, many will find it almost the same, so in this article we will review the benefits offered by each device against each other. Let's go there!

Index of contents

Design

The traditionally square, unidirectional speaker with a structure that tends to the vertical does not have much to do with what Google offers us. Here they have endeavored to design devices in soft and organic forms that are pleasant and integrate discreetly into our home, avoiding concepts such as music equipment or traditional electronic devices.

In both models communication with the user is established visually through the sequence of lights that we can see at the top. In the Google Home model we can find a total of 12 LEDs, while the Google Home Mini has only four. On the other hand, in Google Home we can find some discreet control buttons while in Home Mini the only existing one is the switch that disconnects the microphone, working everything else using touch sensors.

Dimensions, weight and cable

The first thing is to start with the obvious. Google Home Mini was launched as a more compact version of the Google Home. Its visibly reduced format shares aesthetic characteristics with its predecessor such as the mesh fabric that covers the 360º speaker or the effort to avoid unnecessary buttons.

Google Home

Diameter: 96.4 mm Height: 142.8 mm Weight: 477 g Cable: 1.8 m

Google Home Mini

Diameter: 98 mm Height: 42 mm Weight: 173 g Cable: 1.5 m

Apart from the technical comparison, it was to be expected due to its size that Google Home would reach a greater weight. Its cable is also slightly longer and in fact the Google Home Mini cable may fall short if we have to plug it behind a piece of furniture or give it a certain route. In both cases, the company advises against using a connector other than the one provided in the box and it is something to keep in mind. On the other hand, Google Home Mini is more portable (although in theory they are not devices designed to move them around, but to be stationary in a room).

In this section there is no clear winner, it all depends on how important the visibility of the device and the size of the cable are to you.

Colors

Another aspect to consider is the color catalog. In this case, Google Home is winning not only because of the variety, but because this aesthetic aspect can be found in two varieties: cloth mesh or metal mesh. The design is made so that the outer part of its base is interchangeable, so that we can buy the model with the style that is most pleasant to us.

Fabric mesh: gray, purple, teal and orange. Metal mesh: black, white and rose gold.

For its part, Google Home Mini only has the fabric mesh version in four possible colors:

Chalk Charcoal Coral Coral Aquamarine

We must also keep in mind that in their case these models are not "removable", but we must buy it in the color that we like the most but without the option to customize them beyond that decision. About this section we must say that Google Home offers more variety of catalog both in colors and materials.

software

We have added this point to clarify to those most illiterate in the world of digital assistants that although the devices are different, the "program" remains the same. Google Home and Google Home Mini will both be the home residence of our Google Assistant.

In Professional Review we have already dedicated an article to this program and all the tasks it can perform: Google Assistant: What is it? All the information.

In both cases, the tasks and activities that we can entrust to you are the same, as well as connectivity to third-party software such as Spotify and Netflix. This type of links depends entirely on our account, which we must associate with the Google Assistant so that it can interact with them. That said, we can clarify that there are certain advantages of Google Home Mini compared to Google Home, and these are connectivity issues.

Connectivity

In terms of wireless connection Google Home Mini takes advantage of Google Home precisely because it is a newer model. While at Google Home we only have Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n / ac (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz), with Google Home Mini we have:

Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n / ac (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) Chromecast and Chromecast Audio built-in Bluetooth® 4.1 input support

Obviously, those who are determined to create a Nest and link their Smart TV or other smart devices in a single Google system will appreciate the Bluetooth and Chromecast integration offered by Google Home Mini. Other users may not take advantage of these utilities at first, but it is an advantage to have a device that already has them from the factory instead of buying accessories in the future. We consider that in this section Google Home Mini is winning.

Microphone and speaker

Obviously the quality of the sound and the sensitivity of the microphone are two of the most important aspects to take into account of the assistant that we acquire, since they will be our main method of interacting.

Google Home

50mm transducer. Two microphones with far-field voice recognition. Two passive (bass) radiators also 50mm. 360º sound.

Google Home Mini

40mm transducer, two microphones. Voice recognition is configurable. 360 degree sound.

Already listed, we explain these data with ease. The wider Google Home transducer and bass radiators deliver deeper sound and better quality than the Google Home Mini gives us. Plus, its long-range microphones make it possible for you to hear us clearly from longer distances. The Mini version has had to make these sacrifices to reduce its size considerably, but if what we value is the quality of the sound and microphone, Google Home wins here.

Supported audio formats

In both cases the list of formats is identical as well as its compatibility for playback in high resolution streaming (24 bits / 96 KHz). So here we have a tie.

HE-AACLC-AACMP3VorbisWAV (LPCM) OpusFLAC

Price

Google Home Mini is the clear winner of this section since its cost is less than half that of Google Home on its official page. It is true that hardware sacrifices are made but the essential functions are the same or more than we can find in its rival. The Google Home microphone and speakers are of higher quality but for many this is probably not enough to invest in.

Conclusions Google Home VS Google Home Mini

Having said all this and seen the above, it is clear that Google Home Mini is broadly the best option for many in terms of price and performance. In both devices the Operating Systems from where they can be managed with the mobile are identical: Android 5.0 (and later) and iOS 9.1 (and later). In addition, it is convenient to keep in mind that the Google Assistant receives software updates and new functionalities on a regular basis to expand its catalog.

We list the strengths we have collected:

Google Home Mini is 1/3 smaller and lighter than Google Home and fully touch-sensitive via sensor. Both devices incorporate a button to mute the microphone. We found 12 LEDs in Google Home and 4 in Google Home Mini with light patterns that indicate their operation. Google Home has more variety of aesthetic customization. Both have Wi-Fi connection but only Google Home Mini includes Chromecast and Bluetooth connectivity. The functions of the Google Assistant are the same on both devices. The microphone and sound of Google Home is of higher quality. Both devices have voice recognition. They share the same compatible audio formats. Google Home Mini is noticeably cheaper.

If you also doubt which assistant to choose, you can take a look at the article: Google Assistant VS Alexa. If you also doubt which assistant to choose, you can take a look at the article: Google Assistant VS Alexa.

Related to this topic these other articles may be of interest to you:

Google Home Mini VS Echo Dot from Amazon

In conclusion, if we plan to use our assistant as a music player, Google Home is certainly the one that will offer us a clearer sound. Instead and as we mentioned earlier if our goal is to create a network of devices linked to the Google Assistant, it is possible that Google Home Mini will make it easier by bringing Chromecast and Bluetooth built-in base.